If you are thinking of exploring the Danube, Riverside Luxury Cruises may offer the best possible way to discover big-hitter cities like Budapest, Bratislava and Vienna as well as a jewel-box of picturesque waterfront towns. Here are eight reasons why:
Think twice
Aboard the ultra-luxury Riverside Mozart, you’ll be travelling in double-width style. It’s twice the breadth of virtually every other cruise ship on the Danube, giving you more space, light and a fabulous array of dining and relaxation options, while carrying only 172 passengers (mainly North American, with a smattering of Brits and Europeans) and 82 crew – that’s about one crew member for every suite on board.
Food fantasies
Four top-quality restaurants on board offer superb, locally-sourced cuisine and scenic views. In addition to delicious and varied dining in the main Waterside Restaurant, there’s the daytime Bistro and evening tapas restaurant, the informal lunch-spot Blue over the stern, and an outstanding tasting menu in The Vintage Room – a symphony of seven exquisite courses presented with a theatrical flourish and paired wines. Could this be the finest food on the Danube?
Double features
The extra width of Riverside Mozart comes with particular advantages. It means you are very unlikely to have to ‘raft up’, where other cruise ships tie-up on the same berth right against your cabin window, which is an occupational hazard with the standard sized ships. Riverside Mozart’s scale also means there’s room for:
- a promenade walkway right around the ship
- an expansive top deck with its own rooftop garden as well as a bar, loungers, covered table seating and beanbags
- a well-equipped gym, a spa, hot tub and indoor pool with a resistance current to swim against
- 25 bikes (eight of them e-bikes) for exploring on a group tour or independently
Life is Suite
This is an all-suite ship; all rooms are spacious, up to 50% larger than competitors and have windows, many with floor-to-ceiling views and a French balcony so you can open the door to enjoy the fresh air and still have space in the room for a sofa. Wardrobes are generous, with proper hangers. There’s a coffee machine, a mini-bar/fridge, a bottle of fizz awaiting your arrival and petit fours delivered each evening. Every suite has a butler who’ll bring you tea or breakfast in the morning and meet virtually any other request you can think of. The marble-clad en-suite shower rooms even have a performing loo (self-opening lid, seat warmer, wash and blow dry options) that had us tickled pink.
Everything’s included
80% of passengers book on a ‘Premium All-inclusive’ basis which means everything is included – all drinks, all daily shore excursions (with a ‘Quiet Vox’ earpiece relaying the guide’s commentary), excellent WiFi, daily replenishing of your mini-bar and water bottles, plus all tips both on and off ship (so no scrabbling to find a thank you for tour guides) plus transfers between airport and ship. This effectively means that there is often no final bill, making for the most relaxing, informal and mellow atmosphere on board. The only exceptions are spa treatments (though the sauna and steam room are free) and dining at the six-12 seat Vintage Room which is €295 a head but so worth it for a special occasion. For non-drinkers there is also an option that removes alcoholic drinks.
Singular value
Good news for solo travellers! There are no single supplements for solos booking Harmony Suites. Given the common industry practice of charging single guests up to double the shared-room rate, to have no single supplement at all is a great opportunity for friends or family members who still want their own space to try the ship out for size. And with 42 of these spacious, fixed-window Harmony Suites on Riverside Mozart, there’s good availability too. Don’t miss out!
The long and short of it
Unusually, Riverside Mozart offers three- and four-night segments as well as seven-night cruises, making hotel stays easy to add before or after the cruise. Although the three-night Budapest/Bratislava/Vienna option is like a mini city break in its own right! For first timers, a three- or four-night trip is a great way to test the water and let Riverside Luxury Cruises show you just how good its onboard experience is before you book perhaps a full week on the Danube, Rhine, Rhône or beyond.
It’s a deal
Riverside Mozart is priced as you’d expect for an ultra-luxury cruise, but it has some very tempting early-booking offers. Book a 2025 suite for two before 31 December 2024 and you’ll save 25% on the full price – with an additional 10% off for sailings of seven nights or more. How about a week over Easter, 17-24 April 2025, sailing from Passau through the scenic Wachau Valley to Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest from only £3,042pp (and no single supplements)?
Riverside Luxury Cruises have only been operating since 2022, having acquired their fleet of top-flight river ships from Crystal Cruises. Many of the fleet’s original crew chose to stay with the new regime, bringing their expertise, experience and knowledge with them. This makes all the difference to the delivery of service on board – it’s courteous, helpful and right on the button.
For Danube cruises of the highest order, Riverside Mozart really is music to the ears.
Next steps
To find out more about the itineraries available with Riverside Luxury Cruises, and get a personalised quote, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.
